St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-09-22
LINCoLN's PROPHETIC DREAM.
Ward H. LamOn in Philadelphia Times.

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LINCOLN'S PROPHETIC DREAM.
Ward H. Lamon in Philadelphia Times.
There were only two or three listen
ers. Mr.. Lincoln was in melancholy,
meditative mood, and had been silent
for sometime. Mrs. Lincoln, who was
present, rallied him on his solemn Wis.,
age and want of spirit. This seemed
to rouse him, and without seeming to
notice her sally, he said, in slow and
measured tones: at seems strange
! how much there is in the Bible abOut
dreams. There are, | think, some Is
chapters in the Old Testament, and
four or five in the New in which
dreams are mentioned and there are
many other passages scattered through
out the book which refer to visions. If
we believe the Bible we must accept
the fact that in the old days God and
| his angels came to men in their sleep
and made themselves known in dreams.
| Nowadays dreams are regarded as
very foolish, and are seldom told, ex-
cept by old women and by young men
and maidens in love-"
Mrs. Lincoln here remarked: "Why,
you look dreadfully solemn; do you
believe in dreams 7"
81 can't say that do" returned Mr..
Lincoln, 'but l had one the other
night which has haunted me ever
since. After it occurred the first time
| opened the Bible, strange as it
may appear, it was on the 25th chap
ter of Genesis, which relates to the
wonderful dream Jacob had. | turned
to other passages and seemed to en-
counter dream or vision wherever
l looked. l kept Oh turning the leaves
of the old book, and everywhere my
eye fell upon passages recording mat
ters strangely in keeping with my own
thoughts supernatural visitatlons,
dreams, visions, ETC."
He now looked so serious and dis
turbed that Mrs. Lincoln exclaimed
"You brighten me ! What is the mat
ter 2"
81 am afraid" said Mr.. Lincoln, Oh
serving the effect his words had upon
his wife, :'that have done wrong to
mention the subject at all but some
how the thing has got possession of
me, and, like Banquo's ghost, it will
not down."
This only infamed Mrs. Lincoln's
curiosity the more, and while bravely
disclaiming any belief in dreams she
strongly urged him to tell the dream,
which seemed to take such a hold up
on him, being seconded in this by an
other listener. Mr.. Lincoln hesltated,
but at length commenced very delib-
erately, his brow overcast with shade
of melancholy.
"About 10 days ago." he said, al re-
tired very late. [ had been up wait
ing for important dispatches from the
front. | could not have been long in
bed when | fell into slumber, for l
was weary. | soon began to dream.
There seemed to be a :deathlike still
ness about me. Then heard subdued
sobs, as if a number of people were
weeping. l thought left my bed and
wandered down stairs. There, the
silence was broken by the same pitiful
sObbing, but the mOurners were lnvls-
IDLE. l went from room to room. No
living person was in sight, but the
same mournful sounds of distress met
me as passed along. 1t was light in
all the rooms; every object was ia
miliar to me, but where were all the
people who were grieving as If their
hearts would break L was puzzled
and alarmed. What could be the
meaning of all this Determined to
find the cause of state of things so
Mysterious so shocking, | kept on un-
til arrived at the 'end rOOm,' which
entered. There l met sickening sur
prise. Before me was a catafalque, on
which rested corpse wrapped in flu
neral vestments. Around it were sta
toned soldiers, who were acting as
guards; and there was a throng of
people, some gazing mournfully upon
the corpse, whose face was covered
others weeping pitifully: who is
dead i'm the White house L demand
ed of one of the soldiers. 'The presl-
dent was his answer. 'He was killed
by an assassin = Then came Il large
burst of grief from the crowd, which
awoke me from my dream. slept no
more that night; and although it was
only dream, L have been strangely
annoyed by it ever SINCE"
"That is hOrrid !" said Mrs. Lincoln.
81 wish you had not told it. L am
glad l don't believe in dreams, or L
should be in terror from this time
FORTH"
"Wel," responded Mr.. Lincoln
thoughtfully, sit is only dream, Ma
ry. Let us say no more about, and
try to forget all about it,"